The Provincial Government is moving forward to establish a Labour Management Arbitration Committee (LMAC). On April 28, the House of Assembly passed legislation to amend the Labour Relations Act to provide the Provincial Government with the ability to set up the committee to ensure employers and labour have access to a high quality dispute resolution system for arbitrations that occur under the Act and collective agreements.

"Our government is committed to measures that foster a positive labour relations climate in the province," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "In collaboration with labour and employers, we moved forward with amendments to the Labour Relations Act to establish a Labour Management Arbitration Committee and improve the quality of the arbitration process."

"The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour is extremely pleased that the government has passed legislation which will enable the parties involved in the arbitration process to more directly influence the training of arbitrators and the arbitration process itself to ensure a fair and reasonable resolution to differences between the parties," said Reg Anstey, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.

The LMAC will establish educational and experience standards for arbitrators, provide oversight for their qualifications and duties and establish a roster of arbitrators to be used by the employer and labour community.

"Employers are pleased that government has heard the needs articulated by the parties and has moved forward with these legislative amendments," said Denis Mahoney, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition. "They provide tangible improvements that will strengthen the arbitration process and improve the labour relations framework in the province."

The LMAC is to be comprised of nine members, including three each representing employers and labour, two representing professional arbitrators and one ex-officio Provincial Government representative. Stakeholders will select their own representatives to appoint to the committee.

"These legislative changes are a result of the collaboration between labour, employers and government and respond to a request that was made by the parties through the Strategic Partnership Initiative," said Minister Skinner. "The establishment of the Labour Management Arbitration Committee is an example of the kind of positive change we can make when we work in partnership and with a shared sense of purpose."

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Media contact:
Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-4062, 728-9623
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca

2008 05 01                                                     10:30 a.m.